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Investors eye Snow Tire for Athens brewery

The Snow Tire building in downtown Athens might soon get a new tenant with a bit more spirit.

Creature Comfort Brewing Company is in the process of getting the official OK to set up shop at the corner of Hancock Avenue and Pulaski Street, with hopes of having its first beers produced by August 2013, said Athens-based Landmark Properties President and CEO Wes Rogers, an investor.

They’re bringing on David Stein, currently head brewer at Twain’s in Atlanta, to serve as brewmaster for the new company.

“He’s a genius,” Rogers said. “He’s the future of beer brewing in Georgia.”

This is the second foray for Rogers and his partners, Spence Johnson and James Whitley, into the craft brewing movement. All three were among the original investors in Terrapin Beer Company.

Once equipment is ordered and as the business gets set up, Rogers said he expects there to be about 20 employees. While Georgia law prohibits serving food at a facility that manufacturers beer or selling their beer without going through a distributor, they will be offering tours with samples, Rogers said.

While working through the permits, with no guarantee the brewery will open shop at the Snow Tire building, Rogers believes the location will be a boon, seeing as how downtown is already a gathering place.

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